Gehlot seeks probe in gangster's escape from Bikaner jail

Earlier also Ashok Gehlot had raised the point to find out the minister who met Anand Pal in Bikaner jail and the reasons behind it. The former Rajasthan CM asked the CM Vasundhara Raje to seek the minister’s resignation if there is a conspiracy.

Former chief minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday criticised the Rajasthan government over the escape of dreaded criminal Anand Pal Singh.

Anand Pal Singh, facing trial in several cases of murder, dacoity and kidnapping, had run away from the police custody at Gagwa village near Parbatsar in Nagaur on Thursday.

Hinting at the involvement of someone in the government machinery, Gehlot said the incident was not possible without “connivance”.

“The incident shows there is no coordination between police and home department and chief minister’s office. It seems either the home minister has no say or his say is not given importance,” alleged Gehlot.

“Such has become the environment that it seems there is no influence of the home minister. There is no fear of him among the officials, as they know he cannot harm anyone,” he further said.

Addressing media persons at the Pradesh Congress Committee office after a programme, Gehlot said it is hard to understand how is it possible for a person to escape in the presence of a police force armed with AK-47s.

“The chief minister should conduct a high-level probe into the incident and find out who is responsible for his escape,” he demanded.

“Earlier also I had raised the point to find out the minister who met Anand Pal in Bikaner jail and the reasons behind it. If there is a conspiracy, the chief minister should seek the minister’s resignation. In Congress regime, a minister had to resign as he participated in a child marriage programme,” Gehlot said.

He said a government does not run on likes and dislikes of ministers or officials, and if that is the case, the government should stop the talks of good governance.

Accusing the state government of political vendetta, Gehlot said, “Whatever is happening is out of revenge. The officials are being directed by the chief minister’s office, as who needs to be trapped, troubled or threatened. If the officials are going to do illegal acts, then corruption will increase.”

Levelling corruption charges on the government, Gehlot said, “Be it Jaipur Development Authority, municipal corporation, panchayat samiti, tehsil or district level offices, no work is happening without money being paid.”

He also accused the government of not fulfilling its election promises.

“Since the formation of BJP government in Rajasthan, unemployed youths are being beaten up, police has lathi-charge them a number of times. The chief minister should answer how long will it go. The government has promised of 15 lakh jobs. What has happened to that? She should reply,” he said.

“The gover nment should start new recruitments or else the resentment among youth would become uncontrollable,” he added. Despite repeated attempts, home minister Gulab Chand Kataria could not be reached for his comment. His personal staff said he was busy in some religious function.